"I tell you those voices soared, higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream." Well you won't find "The Marriage of Figaro" or even any Mozart in The Escapists, but the original chiptunes are sure to rekindle that nostalgic love. The synthesized melodies vary depending on the current activity. Peaceful xylophones lull you to sleep, marching snare drums signal you to fall in line during roll calls, and the rest are equally clever in their composition. It's a small selection overall, but makes each activity of the day distinguishable without having to look at the clock. The sound effects are equally discernible. You'll always be able to tell when there's a brawl occurring offscreen, a signal to head that way and relieve the unconscious victims of their possessions.

"Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." The Escapists has enjoyed several months of early access on Steam, where it has seen new content and gameplay improvements filter in from a dedicated group of developers. I appreciate the care they are taking in this unique approach, complete with old-school flair. I feel the pace should be simmered down slightly to pair better with the controls, and having a more informed crafting system would allow players to remain in the game rather than shifting back and forth from a wiki page. Otherwise it is an experience full of variety due to the complexity of each prison, and a challenge to escape that demands your time and instills pressure.